Red Alert: Liverpool Thoughts
In case you didn't know, I'm a huge Liverpool fan. Die-hard stuff. I was there a full ninety minutes during this years UEFA Champions League Final in which the most amazing comeback victory ever executed was done, and I was there when Liverpool stooped to it's low points around the last Houllier season. I have seen most of the Liverpool archived matches, became awestrucked at Bruce Grobelaar's blunders and brilliant saves, stared at Ian Rush's most exquisite strikes.
I'm a Reds fan.
So I feel it only right that I make a few comments concerning the Premier League team I so dearly love, as aside to finding something to do with my time.
I need to remind you however, these are purely my opinions, and since they are not even the slightest bit professional, they shouldnt be considered too seriously.
But they still should be considered, nonetheless.
Now. Concerning the team today.
If you do follow the chronicles of today's Liverpool team, you would notice a sharp injection of Spanish flavour into the composite football style of the team. Spanish style per se, not being that of the Primera Liga, but more of the pass-orientated and polite-style of football.
I say polite in stark contrast of more physical teams, such as Blackburn Rovers (who are VERY VERY rough), Fulham and even Manchester United.
Very rarely you will witness a full red shirt going in for a rough slide tackle, and an obscene hand gouge to the eye, or anything like that. But then again, it's not hard for them to adopt it during Rafael Benitez's tenure, seeing as how they natually progressed from French style football under Gerard Houllier.
This Spanish infusion is a direct effect of Rafa Benitez's origin from the nation, which is a normal thing to happen. Houllier signed on the likes of Bruno Cheyrou, Le Tallec and attempted for Cisse in his time, so yea, there you can definitely see a bias towards country.
But I'm quite pleased to see that Benitez has begun to expand his horizons. Look at Mohammad Sissoko, a Mali player. Quality stuff, Sissoko. But unfortunately, he neither has seen much of the ball, much of the pitch even, to do anything of significance. Hopefully, in due time, he will become sensational.
But I'm not saying either that the Spanish players brought in are bad, far from it. In fact, most of them are truly very very good. Playmaker Xabi Alonso and (in contrast to popular opinion) poacher Luis Garcia, for example. Alonso is responsibly for some pretty precise intensive plays and Luis Garcia.....well, we all remember the Chelsea semi-final of the Champion League at Anfield. Of course, with hits, there are misses. Like Josemi and Nunez, but come on, let's be realistic, Benitez takes gambles.
Let us examine the on-pitch team.
Jose Reina, between posts, is admittedly solid. To an unfathomable reason, alot of fellow Reds fans I know do not seem to favour Pepe, opting for the hero-villain Jerzy Dudek that has served the Reds for several seasons beforehand after David James. But regardless, the past 7 matches have been left without a goal conceded, which is something not many goalkeepers can manage.
The back four, consisting of defensive rocks Jamie Carragher (my hero!) and Sami Hyppia, along with a rotating left and right backs, have always been a Liverpool asset. For the past several seasons, Liverpool's back four has been a thing of wonder, of excellence, of permanence. However, it comes to mind that ex-captain Sami Hyppia is getting old, and will soon retire, and his protege and lookalike Zak Whitbread still has volumes to learn, and it was due to his inability to plug the holes that contributed to the recent League Cup defeat by Crystal Palace.
Finding replacements for Hyppia and for the sake of foresight for Carragher is immensely difficult, and proves to be a brewing crisis for Anfield.
Finding a left and right back however, is not a crisis. Strength comes with Riise, technique comes from Finnan, heart comes from Stephen Warnock (a young hero, he), and...uhm....blunders, come from Djimi Traore.
Let's not forget Josemi, who hopefully will only be used as a reserve. Hmm.
Concerning the midfield, which is arguably one of the most diverse midfield personalities in the league, there is much concern to be had. Concern not in terms of quality, in which is present in abundance, but in terms of the functionality of all these talents.
In the midfield, we of course have talismanic captain and ego reactor Steven Gerrard, arguably one of Liverpool's greatest legends, alongside the genius Xabi Alonso, the aforemention poacher supreme Luis Garcia, defensive strongback Didi Hamann, the most unluckiest star player alive Harry Kewell, the aforementioned Sissoko, and the dazzling Zenden (amazing!).
Now. We know all about team chemistry, and we know how some players work with only certain players. Take into consideration, of course, that Steven Gerrard stays full on, as he is the captain. Now, think about it.
Sissoko, being lightfooted and quick as lightning, will only be redundant if he was paired with.....let's say.....Zenden. And we can't possibly expect results if we chuck both Hamann and Alonso on the field, for that would mean a purely technical game.
So that's the thing, Benitez adopts a method of rotation. Some games he uses certain players based on the opponents, some games he uses mainstay positive personalities. This is good, of course.
But this is bad for the player, and for younger players, it will fail to cultivate a sort of consistent mainstay attitudes. Being rotated isn't good for a personality that is willing to give more, that is willing to produce a better performance. Thus, the search for a good, consistent and skilful midfield is a big problem. On one hand, Benitez could opt to find mainstays that guarantees games but neglects subs, but on the other, he could rotate as he is now, and neglects full on mainstays that can become legends.
Oh the pain.
Now, let us look at Liverpool's recent problem: Good strikers.
We have, as of now, Djibril Cisse (highest scorer!), Fernando Morientes, the amiable Peter Crouch, Sinama Ponggole and the one-shot hero Neil Mellor.
Cisse has been looking good lately, so i won't press much on him. His cocky attitude adds a new dimension of personality to the overall hearty Liverpool team, but sometimes....enough is enough.
Morientes is a good player, hands down. It's just...his form has yet to be found. He's good in the air, he's strong in his shots, he plays the ball...why can't he score a lot more? I believe it is his service work, his anticipation play is abit slim.
Ahh....Peter Crouch. I'm gonna bum out here, I like Crouch. He's very good with control, he's....REALLY tall, making him automatically good in the air (but not in accuracy of headers), he's got heart, he's a good passer, he's a team player...it's just that he can't score. Yes, he's a good player, a very good one. But he's not a good striker, at least not yet. Like Ian Rush mentioned in the newspapers this morning, he needs to be far more selfish to become a good scorer. Lord with him.
Pongolle and Mellor....well, what can i say. They're young, fresh legs, Pongolle with his raging temper and funky hair and Mellor with...that cracker against Arsenal. But they have soo much potential...just little play time.
Well, thats it for now, i've got things to do :P. So uh, til next time!
(Listening to :- Depapepe -SUMMER PARADE)
I'm a Reds fan.
So I feel it only right that I make a few comments concerning the Premier League team I so dearly love, as aside to finding something to do with my time.
I need to remind you however, these are purely my opinions, and since they are not even the slightest bit professional, they shouldnt be considered too seriously.
But they still should be considered, nonetheless.
Now. Concerning the team today.
If you do follow the chronicles of today's Liverpool team, you would notice a sharp injection of Spanish flavour into the composite football style of the team. Spanish style per se, not being that of the Primera Liga, but more of the pass-orientated and polite-style of football.
I say polite in stark contrast of more physical teams, such as Blackburn Rovers (who are VERY VERY rough), Fulham and even Manchester United.
Very rarely you will witness a full red shirt going in for a rough slide tackle, and an obscene hand gouge to the eye, or anything like that. But then again, it's not hard for them to adopt it during Rafael Benitez's tenure, seeing as how they natually progressed from French style football under Gerard Houllier.
This Spanish infusion is a direct effect of Rafa Benitez's origin from the nation, which is a normal thing to happen. Houllier signed on the likes of Bruno Cheyrou, Le Tallec and attempted for Cisse in his time, so yea, there you can definitely see a bias towards country.
But I'm quite pleased to see that Benitez has begun to expand his horizons. Look at Mohammad Sissoko, a Mali player. Quality stuff, Sissoko. But unfortunately, he neither has seen much of the ball, much of the pitch even, to do anything of significance. Hopefully, in due time, he will become sensational.
But I'm not saying either that the Spanish players brought in are bad, far from it. In fact, most of them are truly very very good. Playmaker Xabi Alonso and (in contrast to popular opinion) poacher Luis Garcia, for example. Alonso is responsibly for some pretty precise intensive plays and Luis Garcia.....well, we all remember the Chelsea semi-final of the Champion League at Anfield. Of course, with hits, there are misses. Like Josemi and Nunez, but come on, let's be realistic, Benitez takes gambles.
Let us examine the on-pitch team.
Jose Reina, between posts, is admittedly solid. To an unfathomable reason, alot of fellow Reds fans I know do not seem to favour Pepe, opting for the hero-villain Jerzy Dudek that has served the Reds for several seasons beforehand after David James. But regardless, the past 7 matches have been left without a goal conceded, which is something not many goalkeepers can manage.
The back four, consisting of defensive rocks Jamie Carragher (my hero!) and Sami Hyppia, along with a rotating left and right backs, have always been a Liverpool asset. For the past several seasons, Liverpool's back four has been a thing of wonder, of excellence, of permanence. However, it comes to mind that ex-captain Sami Hyppia is getting old, and will soon retire, and his protege and lookalike Zak Whitbread still has volumes to learn, and it was due to his inability to plug the holes that contributed to the recent League Cup defeat by Crystal Palace.
Finding replacements for Hyppia and for the sake of foresight for Carragher is immensely difficult, and proves to be a brewing crisis for Anfield.
Finding a left and right back however, is not a crisis. Strength comes with Riise, technique comes from Finnan, heart comes from Stephen Warnock (a young hero, he), and...uhm....blunders, come from Djimi Traore.
Let's not forget Josemi, who hopefully will only be used as a reserve. Hmm.
Concerning the midfield, which is arguably one of the most diverse midfield personalities in the league, there is much concern to be had. Concern not in terms of quality, in which is present in abundance, but in terms of the functionality of all these talents.
In the midfield, we of course have talismanic captain and ego reactor Steven Gerrard, arguably one of Liverpool's greatest legends, alongside the genius Xabi Alonso, the aforemention poacher supreme Luis Garcia, defensive strongback Didi Hamann, the most unluckiest star player alive Harry Kewell, the aforementioned Sissoko, and the dazzling Zenden (amazing!).
Now. We know all about team chemistry, and we know how some players work with only certain players. Take into consideration, of course, that Steven Gerrard stays full on, as he is the captain. Now, think about it.
Sissoko, being lightfooted and quick as lightning, will only be redundant if he was paired with.....let's say.....Zenden. And we can't possibly expect results if we chuck both Hamann and Alonso on the field, for that would mean a purely technical game.
So that's the thing, Benitez adopts a method of rotation. Some games he uses certain players based on the opponents, some games he uses mainstay positive personalities. This is good, of course.
But this is bad for the player, and for younger players, it will fail to cultivate a sort of consistent mainstay attitudes. Being rotated isn't good for a personality that is willing to give more, that is willing to produce a better performance. Thus, the search for a good, consistent and skilful midfield is a big problem. On one hand, Benitez could opt to find mainstays that guarantees games but neglects subs, but on the other, he could rotate as he is now, and neglects full on mainstays that can become legends.
Oh the pain.
Now, let us look at Liverpool's recent problem: Good strikers.
We have, as of now, Djibril Cisse (highest scorer!), Fernando Morientes, the amiable Peter Crouch, Sinama Ponggole and the one-shot hero Neil Mellor.
Cisse has been looking good lately, so i won't press much on him. His cocky attitude adds a new dimension of personality to the overall hearty Liverpool team, but sometimes....enough is enough.
Morientes is a good player, hands down. It's just...his form has yet to be found. He's good in the air, he's strong in his shots, he plays the ball...why can't he score a lot more? I believe it is his service work, his anticipation play is abit slim.
Ahh....Peter Crouch. I'm gonna bum out here, I like Crouch. He's very good with control, he's....REALLY tall, making him automatically good in the air (but not in accuracy of headers), he's got heart, he's a good passer, he's a team player...it's just that he can't score. Yes, he's a good player, a very good one. But he's not a good striker, at least not yet. Like Ian Rush mentioned in the newspapers this morning, he needs to be far more selfish to become a good scorer. Lord with him.
Pongolle and Mellor....well, what can i say. They're young, fresh legs, Pongolle with his raging temper and funky hair and Mellor with...that cracker against Arsenal. But they have soo much potential...just little play time.
Well, thats it for now, i've got things to do :P. So uh, til next time!
(Listening to :- Depapepe -SUMMER PARADE)
posted by Nick - Constantine @ 5:33 AM
18 comments
